Bailer



May 30, 1939.- D. c. WALKER BAILER 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 3, 1938Vlr/zama A "AAH,

May 30, 1939. D. c, WALKER BAILER Filed Jan. 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented May 3o, 1939 BAILEB David clinton walker, um; neuh, cam.,usignor to Bush-Ross Tool Company, Los Angoles, Calif., a corporation ofCalifornia Application .mam-y s, 193s. sensing. 183.013

momma. (CL 16s-19) This invention relates to a well tool and relatesmore particularly to a bailer for introducing or delivering 'material toa'well. A general object of this invention is to provide a simple,practical 5 and effective dump bailer for use in wells.

Another object ofxihis invention is to provide a dump bailer forintroducing' acid, cement slurry, and other materials into a well thatmay be unloaded or operated to discharge its contents at any selectedpoint in the well. The dump bailer provided by the present invention maybe unloaded at the bottom of the well or at any higher point in the welland its unloading may be effected without engaging it against the bottomwall of the wen.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bailer of the charactermentioned that embodies a simple, dependable valve normally or initiallyheld closed by the head pressure or the y weight of the materiallcontained in the bailer body and by the weight of certain elements ofthe bailer structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide in the well bymanipulation of the string or line carrying the bailer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bailer of the charactermentioned in which there is little or no possibility of the contentsbeing accidentally discharged in the event that the lower element of thebailerstrikes an obstruction or projection in the well when the baileris being lowered in the well.

Another object of this invention is to` provide a bailer of thecharacter mentioned embodying novel and dependable latch means forlatching the valve open to assure a full unloading of the material fromthe bailer body.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dump bailer of thecharactermentioned that" is simple and inexpensive to manufacture andthat is convenient to operate.\ y

The various objects and features of my invention will be fullyunderstood from the following detailed description of atypical preferredform and application of the invention, throughout which descriptionreference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

`Fig.`1 is a sideelevation of the lower portion of the improved bailerprovidedv by the present invention Ain a well with the parts in thenormal positions. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal detailed sectionalview of the intermediate portion 55 of the bailer showing the valveclosed. Fig. 3

is an enlarged longitudinal detailed sectional view ofthe lower end partof the bailer with the parts in the normal positions. Fig. 4 is a viewsimilar toFig. 1 showing the parts in the partially operated positions.Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the valve open and one of thelatches actuated, and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical 'sectional viewshowing the other latch actuated.

The bailer provided by the present invention includes, generally, a bodyI0 adapted to contain material to be discharged into a well W, a valveII for governing the discharge of the ma,l terial from the body I0 and acontrol I2 for the valve II whereby the valve may be opened by movementor manipulation of the body I0 in the 'I'he bailer body I0 is anelongate hollow or tubular structure adapted to be lowered into the wellW on a line or cable (not shown). The body I0 preferably includes anupper section I3 for containing the' material to be delivered to thewell anda lower section I4. The upper section I3 ofthe body III may beof any desired length to contain the required amount of'material and theupper end of the section I3 is intended to be connected with the linefor lowering the bailer into the well. 'I'he lower body section I4 is inthe nature of a tubular extension on the lower endof the section I3. Thesections I3 and I4 may be connected by a suitable coupling I5. A plug I6is preferably provided for the lower end of the lower section I4.l Theplug I6 may be threaded in the lower portion of the section I4 and isprovided with a central longitudinal opening I'I. 'Ihe body III isproportioned to readily pass through the wellW or its casing.

The valve II is carried by the lower section I4 of the body I0 tonormally retain or hold the material in the upper body section I3. Thevalve II includes a seat I8 on the interior of the lower body sectionI4. 'I'he seat I8 may be in the nature of a ringarranged in the upperportion of lthe section I4. The seat I8 may be secured in place in anysuitable manner, for example, it may rest downwardly against a'shoulderI9on the interior of the section I4 and may be fixed to the section bywelding 20. VThe seat I8 is preferably provided with a tapered surface2| surrounding the upper portion of its opening 22. The surface 2| isannular and faces upwardly.

The valve II further includes a stem 23 arranged longitudinally throughthe lower -body section I4 and a head on the stem 23 for cooperatingwith the seat I8. Thestem 23 is slidable in the plug opening I1 andpasses upwardly through the opening 22 in the seat I3. A portion 24 ofreduced diameter is preferably provided on the upper end of the stem 23and provides the stem with an upwardly facing annular shoulder 23. Theabove-mentioned valve head includes a tapered or frusto-conical member23 on the reduced stem portion 24 and a nut 21 threaded on the portion24. 'Ihe valve member 23 engaged downwardly against the shoulder 23 andthe nut 21 cooperates with the upper end lof the member to hold themember in place. l The nut 21 may be tapered or conical and may belockedto the stem portion 24 by a pin 23. The valve member 23 is shaped andproportioned to t downwardly vagainst the surface 2| to completely closethe opening 22 and thus trap or hold the material in the upper bodysection I3. When the bailer is to be employed to handle cement slurryand other non-corrosive materials the valve member 23 may be formed ofsteel or the like. When the bailer is to be employed to handle acid thevalve member 23 is preferably formed of rubber, rubber composition orother material that is substantially unaffected by acid. The valvemember 23 -must have suiilcient strength and rigidity to withstand theweight or head pressure of the column of nuid contained in the uppersection I3 of the bailer body |3. It is to b e observed that the valvemember 23 sealingy downwardly against the surface 2| is held in itsclosed position by the weight of the column of fluid in the body sectionI3.

A guide 23 may be provided in the lower body section I4 between the seatI3 and the plug I3 to assist in guiding the stem 23. 'The guide 23 maybe welded to the interior of the section |4 and is provided with acentral longitudinal opening which slidably passesthe stem 23. A stopcollar 33 may be secured to the stem 23 to cooperate with the under sideof the guide 23 to limit the upward movement of the stem 23 relative tothe body I3. One or more discharge portsY 3| are provided in the wall ofthe body section I4. The ports 3| are located between the seat |3 andthe guide 23 and in practice may be at or adjacent the upper side of theguide. The ports 3| are provided to discharge the acid, cement ormaterial handled by the bailer and of course are controlled by the valvemember 23 cooperating with the seat I3. A vent or drain port y32 may beprovided in the plug I3 tomaintain the interior of the body section |4between theplug and the guide I9 in rcommunication with the well.

The control I2 for the valve Il is an important feature of the inventionand provides for the opening of the valve and the discharge of the fluidfrom the bailer body I3 at any selected point in the well W. Inaccordance with the invention the stem 23 extends a substantial distancedownwardly beyond the plug |3 and its lower end preferably has a bullnose or guide 33. The control |2 includes a tailpiece A on theprojecting lower portion of the stem 23. The tailpiece A is in thenature of ananchor and includes longitudinally spaced sleeves 34l and 33 shiftable on the stem 23 and leaf springs 33 extending between andsecured to the sleeves. The springs 33 are bowed outwardly to havefrictional contact with the wall 'of the well W or the well casing toresist movement ofthe tailpiece A in the well.

Means is preferably provided to yieldingly resist relative movementbetween the stem 23 and the tailpiece A in one direction so that theengisement of the guide 33 with an obstruction 1n the weu win notproduce substantial relative movement between the stem 23 and thetailpiece .A. This means may consist of ahelical spring 31 surroundingthe stem 23and arranged.

under compression between the upper side of the guide 33 and the lowerside of the sleeve 33. lThe spring 31 serves to normally yieldingly holdthe tailpiece A in a position where the upper end of the sleeve 34is'adjacent or in engagement with the lower end of the plug I3.. It isto be understood that the tailpiece springs 33 cooperating with the wallof the well W oifer such resistance to movement of the tailpiece A thatthe stem 23 may be intentionally moved upwardly with the body I3relative to the tailpiece A to compress erste with the sleeve 33 of thetailpiece A. A vertical slot 4| is provided in the stem 23 and a pin 42passes transversely through the upper portion of the slot. The latch 43is pivoted on the pin'42 and normally dependsin the slot 4|. A notch isformed in the lower outer corner of the latch 43 and provides the latchwith a down-J wardly facing shoulder 43'and an outwardly facingshoulder'44. A plate 43 may be welded across the-lower vouter portion ofthe slot 4| and is engageable by the shoulder 4,4 to limit the outwardpivoting of the latch 43. Spring means is provided to yieldingly urgethe latch 43 outwardly. Aligned sockets 43 are provided in the opposinginner surfaces of the latch 43 and the slot 4| and a helical spring 41is arranged under compression in the sockets 43 to urgethe latch 43 out-The parts4 are proportioned and related so that the outer side of thelatch 43 cooperates with the wall of the opening 33l in thesleeve 33when the member 23 is in sealing engagement with the surface 2|. Thesleeve opening 33 is preferably of substantial length so that the latch43 may move in the opening when there is limited relative longitudinalmovement between the tailpiece A and the stem 23 when the bailer is runinto the well. When the body I3 is moved upwardly with the parts of thebailer in the normal positions the stem 23 moves upwardly relative tothe tailpiece A so that the latch 43 -moves upwardly through the opening33 in the tailpiece sleeve 33. The latch V43 may move upwardly to aposition where its shoulder 43v passes the upper end o f the sleeve 33and the spring 41 pivots the latch outwardly to a position the vspring31 against the lower end of the lower such as illustrated in Fig. 6 ofthe drawings wardly out of engagement with the valve member 23, thusopening the valve to permit the discharge of material from the bailer.

The control |2 further includes a latch 43 for latchingthestemtothebodyI3 whenthe valve seat I8 is in its open position wlth respect to thevalve member 26'to assure the complete discharge of the material fromthe bailer. In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings thelatch 48 is carried by the stem 23 and cooperates withthe plug I6. Alongitudinal slot 50 is provided in the stem 23 and a pin-6l passestransversely through the upper portion of the slot 58. The latch 48 ispivoted on the pin 5I to depend in the slot 58. The lower outer cornerof the latch 48 isnotched to have a downwardly facing shoulder 52 and anoutwardly facing shoulder 53. A plate 54 maybe welded across the lowerouter part of the slot 50. The plate 54 is engageable by the shoulder 53to limit outward pivoting of the latch 48. Aligned sockets 55 areprovided in the opposing surfaces of the latch 48 and the slot 50 and aspring 56 is arranged in the sockets 55 to yleldingly urge the latch 54outwardly. When the valve member 26 is in its closed position inengagement with the seat I8 the latch 48 bears outwardly against thewall of the opening I1 in the plug I6 with its shoulder 52 some distancebelow the upper end of the plug. When the valve Il is opened by upwardmovement of the body I0 followed by downward movement of the body I8, asdescribed above, the downward movement of the body with respect to thetailpiece A and the stem 23 brings the upper end of the plug I6 belowthe shoulder 52. When this occurs the spring 56 moves the latch 48outwardly so that the shoulder 52 cooperates with the upper end oftheplug I6 to definitely prevent downward movement of the stem 23relative to the kbody Ill so that the seat I8 and the valve member 26are maintained in spaced relation.

It is believed that the operation of the im-v proved dump bailerprovided by this invention will be readily understood from the foregoingdetailed description. 'I'he bailer may be assembled with the parts inthe position illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3 of the drawingsand thematerial to be delivered into the well may be provided in the uppersection I3 of thevbody I0. The bailer may be lowered or run into thewell W on a line. It will be observed that the valve member 26 sealsdownwardly against the seat I8 to positively prevent the loss of thematerial from the bailer and to be held tightly closed by the weight ofthe column of material in the body section I3. The weight of the columnof material in the section I3 and the pressure exerted by the spring 31effectively resist opening of the valve member 26 in the event the guide33 strikes a projection in the well when the bailer is being lowered inthe bore. This action of the column of fluid and the spring 3l preventsaccidental or premature unloading of the bailer. When the bailer hasreached the selected position in the well the body I0 is raised or movedupwardly. The frictional contact of the springs 36 with the wall of thewell W holds the tailpiece A against movement during upward shifting ofthe body I0 with the result that the stem 23 moves upwardly relative tothe sleeve 35. This upward movement of the stem 23 brings the latch 40to a position where its shoulder 43 latches into engagement with theupper end of the sleeve 35. Following the above described upwardmovement of the body I0 the body is moved downwardly or is allowed tosettle. The springs 36 of the tailpiece A cooperating with the wall ofthe well W hold the tailpiece against movement and the latch 40cooperating with the sieeveu as Just described holds the stem 2s against`movement withy the result that downwardvmovement of the body effectsdownward Vmovement of the seat I8 out of engagementv with the valvemember 28. This, of course, allows the ,material in the upper section I3of the body I0 to discharge through the opening 22 and the ports 3l toflow into the well. The opening of the valve II is accompanied bylatching of thestem 23 to the body I0. The above described downwardmovement of the body I0 relative to the tailpiece A and the stem 23brings the upper and of the plug I6 to a position where the latch 48pivots outwardly to have its shoulder 52 engage the upper end of theplug. The latch 48 engaging the upper end of the plug I6 definitelyprevents upward movement of the body I0 relative to the stem 23 anddownward movement of the stem 23 relative to the body I0 and accordinglyholds the valve II fully opened. Thus the contents of the upper bodysection I3 are free to completely discharge into the well. ing of thebailer the bailer may be withdrawn from the well on its line.

From the above description of operation of the bailer it will beapparentthat the bailer maybe manipulated to discharge its contents at anyselectedpoint in the well. Inthe event it is desired to discharge thebailer. immediately adjacent the bottom of the wellbore the bailer maybe merely lowered into the weil to` engage the guide 33 against thebottom wall of the well. When this occurs the stem 23 and the valvemember 26 are held against further downward movement 'and continuoueddownward movement of the bailer body I0 moves the seat I8 downwardlyaway from the valve member 2li to permit the discharge of the contentsfrom the section I3. The stop 30 on the stem 23 isengageable by theguide 28 to limit the downward rovement of the bailer body relative tothe stem Having described only a typical preferred form and applicationof my invention, I do not wish to be limitedor restricted to thespecific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself anyvariations or modications that may appear to those skilled in the art orfall within the scope of the following claims. l

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A bailer for introducing material into a well comprising a body forcontaining the material, l

they body having an outlet -for the material, a valve seating downwardlyto close the outlet, and a control for the valve including a tailpiecefrictionally cooperating with the'wall of the well and shiftablyconnected with the valve, and latch means for connecting the valve andtailpiece to latch the valve against downward movement relative to thetailpiece whereby downward movement of the body relative to thetailpiece opens the valve.

2. A bailer for introducing material into a well comprising a body forcontaining the material and having an outlet, valve means for the outletcomprising a seat on the body and a valve cooperable with the seat, anda control comprising two elements, one a stem on the valve, the other aunit shiftable on the stem and having parts frictionally engaging thewall of the well to resist its movement, and latch means engaged bymovement of the stem with the body in one direction to connect the stemand unit against relative movement in the other direction whereby letcomprising a seat on the body and a valve seating downwardly against theseat, a stem on the valve', and a control comprising a unit shiftable onthe stem and comprising parts frictionally engaging thev wall of thewell to resist its movement, and latch means engaged by upward movementof the stem with the body to connect the stem and theunit and preventdownward movement of the stem relative to the unitwhereby the unit holdsthe stem against downward movement during subsequent downward movementof the body to move the seat downwardly away from the valve. l

4. A bailer for introducing material into a well comprising a body forcontaining the material and having an outlet, valve means for the outletcomprising a seat on the body and a valve sealing downwardly on theseat, a stem on the valve and a control comprising a tailpiece shiftableon the stem and including parts irictionally engaging the wall of thewell to resist its movement, and latch means operable by upward movementof the stem with the body to connect the stem with the tail-piecewhereby the tailpiece holds the valve against downward movement duringsubsequent downward movement-of the seat with" the body.

5. A bailer for introducing material into a well comprising a body forcontaining the mate- `rial and'having an outlet, valve means for theoutlet comprising a seat on the body and a valve sealing downwardly onthe seat, a stem on the valve and a control comprising a tailpieceshiftable on the stem and including parts i'rictionally engaging thewall of the well to resist its movement, latch means operable by upwardmovement of the stem with the body to connect'the stem with thetailpiece whereby the tail-piece holds the valve against downwardmovement during subsequent downward movement of,the seat with the bodyand latch means preventing subsequent downward movement of the stemrelative to the body to prevent closing of the valve.

6. A bailer for introducing material into a well comprising a bodyforcontaining the material and having an outlet, valve means for theoutlet comprising a seat on the body and a valve sealing downwardlyagainst the seat, a stem on the valve, a tailpiece shiitable on the stemand including springs cooperable with the wall of the well to resist itsmovement, and a latch on the stem cooperable with the tailpiece to latchthe stem against downward movement relative F1. A bauer ror'muoducingmateriel into a, wen

compridhg ,a body for containing the material and haring an.outletvalvemeans for the outlet4 comprising a seat on the body and a valvesealing downwardly against the seat, 'a stem on the valve, a tailpieceshiitable on the stem and including springs.cooperable with the wall ofthe well to resist its movement,- means yieidingly resisting upwardmovement of the stem relative to the tailpiece, and a latch on the stemcooperable with the tailpiece to latch the stem against downwardmovement relative to the tailpiecey ,against downward movementrelativeto the tailpiece whereby subsequent downward movement o! the body movesthe seat down away from the valve, and a latch on the stem cooperablewith the body to prevent downward movement of the stem relative to thebody. 1

9. A bailer for'introducing material into a well comprising a body forcontaining the material and having an outlet, valve means for theoutlet` comprising a seat on the body and a valve sealing downwardlyagainst the seat, a stem on the valve, a tailpiece shii'table on thestem and including springs cooperable with the wall of the well toresist its movement, a guide member on the stem, a spring between thetailpiece and the guide member resisting upward movement of the stem,and a latch on the stem cooperable with the tailpiece to latch the stemagainst downward movement relative to the tailpiece whereby subsequentdownward movement of the body moves the seat away from the valve.

10. A baiier for introducing material into a well comprising a body forcontaining the material and having an outlet, valve means for the outletcomprising a seaton the body and a valve sealing downwardly against theseat, a stemvon the valve, a tailpiece shiftable on the stem andincluding springs cooperable with the wall of the well to resist itsmovement. a guide member on the siem, a spring between the tailpiece andthe guide member resisting upward movement of the stem, the weight oithe vmaterial in the body and said spring preventing 'opening of thevalve in the event the guide encounters an object in the well, and latchmeans for latching the stem against downward movement relative to thetailpiece whereby subsequent downward movement of. the body eii'ectsmovement of the seat away from the valve.

DAVID CLINTON WALKER..

